Burglaries rise as Christmas nears

The department released photos Monday that were captured during the burglary of a home on University Circle.

Tuscaloosa Police Department

By Stephanie TaylorStaff Writer

Published: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 9:55 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 9:55 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Several people at a home near the University of Alabama campus slept early Sunday morning while two men plundered through the house for valuable items.

They woke to find that a laptop computer and an iPhone 4 had been stolen. The burglary was one of 77 reported to Tuscaloosa police this month, according to department statistics. Police say that the number of burglaries could rise as Christmas approaches, if trends from past years are repeated.

More burglaries are reported to police during the holiday season, when people are often out shopping during the day or out of town visiting family. Tuscaloosa police are planning to conduct extra patrols with hopes of keeping that number down this year, said Sgt. Brent Blankley of the Tuscaloosa Police Department.

The house on University Circle that was burglarized is equipped with security cameras, which provided police with clear images of two men. Most homeowners don’t have an advanced security system, but Blankley said there are simple precautions people can take to decrease the chance of becoming a victim.

People should keep their doors and windows locked at all times and keep shrubs trimmed to eliminate areas where burglars can hide, he said.

Exterior doors that are solid wood or steel clad are the safest, he said. Locks should have a bolt that extends at least an inch and a half into the structural jamb.

Homeowners should keep an up to date inventory of valuable items and include photographs.

He encouraged travelers to close their curtains and blinds and use timers and motion sensors on radios, lamps and televisions. Mail and newspaper deliveries should be stopped.

Keys should never be left outside, Blankley said, because they are too easy to find. People should take valuable jewelry, firearms and cash with them when leaving town. Trusted friends and neighbors should check on the home or park in the driveway if possible.

People who return home and see that their home has been burglarized shouldn’t go inside.

“Entering could be dangerous and destroy important evidence,” he said.

It’s more likely for stolen items to be recovered if the owner has compiled a property inventory and marked items with their driver’s license numbers.

“Items are sometimes recovered before they are even discovered missing,” he said.

He encouraged people to report burglaries even if they believe nothing can be done. Police need to know where to concentrate patrols, he said.

Anyone who recognizes the suspects from the photos released Monday is asked to call Tuscaloosa County CrimeStoppers at 205-752-STOP (78667) or text “Tusc” and the suspect’s information to CRIMES (274637). Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity is encouraged to call or text CrimeStoppers or the Tuscaloosa Police Department at 205-349-2121.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Several people at a home near the University of Alabama campus slept early Sunday morning while two men plundered through the house for valuable items.</p><p>They woke to find that a laptop computer and an iPhone 4 had been stolen. The burglary was one of 77 reported to Tuscaloosa police this month, according to department statistics. Police say that the number of burglaries could rise as Christmas approaches, if trends from past years are repeated.</p><p>More burglaries are reported to police during the holiday season, when people are often out shopping during the day or out of town visiting family. Tuscaloosa police are planning to conduct extra patrols with hopes of keeping that number down this year, said Sgt. Brent Blankley of the Tuscaloosa Police Department.</p><p>The house on University Circle that was burglarized is equipped with security cameras, which provided police with clear images of two men. Most homeowners don't have an advanced security system, but Blankley said there are simple precautions people can take to decrease the chance of becoming a victim.</p><p>People should keep their doors and windows locked at all times and keep shrubs trimmed to eliminate areas where burglars can hide, he said.</p><p>Exterior doors that are solid wood or steel clad are the safest, he said. Locks should have a bolt that extends at least an inch and a half into the structural jamb. </p><p>Homeowners should keep an up to date inventory of valuable items and include photographs.</p><p>He encouraged travelers to close their curtains and blinds and use timers and motion sensors on radios, lamps and televisions. Mail and newspaper deliveries should be stopped.</p><p>Keys should never be left outside, Blankley said, because they are too easy to find. People should take valuable jewelry, firearms and cash with them when leaving town. Trusted friends and neighbors should check on the home or park in the driveway if possible.</p><p>People who return home and see that their home has been burglarized shouldn't go inside. </p><p>“Entering could be dangerous and destroy important evidence,” he said. </p><p>It's more likely for stolen items to be recovered if the owner has compiled a property inventory and marked items with their driver's license numbers. </p><p>“Items are sometimes recovered before they are even discovered missing,” he said.</p><p>He encouraged people to report burglaries even if they believe nothing can be done. Police need to know where to concentrate patrols, he said.</p><p>Anyone who recognizes the suspects from the photos released Monday is asked to call Tuscaloosa County CrimeStoppers at 205-752-STOP (78667) or text “Tusc” and the suspect's information to CRIMES (274637). Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity is encouraged to call or text CrimeStoppers or the Tuscaloosa Police Department at 205-349-2121.</p><p>Reach Stephanie Taylor at stephanie.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0210.</p>